Satisfaction of a Job Well Done

Galations 6:4 
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.  For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Isn't God's Word a sweet healing balm to our soul?!  How often I find that I don't measure up to what someone else is:
                                       *wearing                   * doing to their hair
                                       * cooking                  * gardening
                                       * keeping the house clean
                                       * teaching in their classroom
                                       * balancing family, church, Bible Study
                                       * doing for the church
Well, the list can go on and on and on.  Yet, even my own expectations can be hard to live up to, why add the additional rules to the game.  Just as the new believers were doing.

Just as Galations 1:6 points out..."If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. 

So whose servant am I....? Something to ponder upon for today.
 
                                            

Walking With The Spirit

 My devotional time today was in Galations chapter 3.



¹ You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. ² I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? ³ Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?^{[a] 4} Have you experienced^[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

I don't know about you, but these last few months I've been exhausted.  I feel like I just get things done and it's time to begin the new tasks that lay ahead.  Meanwhile, my devotional time has suffered...I feel farther away from where I want to be.  I can never seem to get enough work completed; the more I do the more I need to do.  The projects just keep getting bigger.

Yet, not once did I ask my Heavenly Father about it.  I didn't ask him about His plans for me and I didn't ask for His help.  My day would be much better when complimented with His Spirit rather than my own works.  What have I been thinking?!

Each Sunday, I look at the calendar for the wee and inform the family of our plans.  I think I must to this to God, too.  Realizing the error of my ways, I need to rise and ask Him what His plans are for me this day.  I need to thank Him for all things.  I also need to stop meeting the demands of man (myself included) and meet the demands of my Lord. 

Enough Said!

(NIV) Luke 1:
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

It's been almost a year since I've blogged. Life simply gets crazy. Yet, this weekend, I really wanted to join the women again in Wendy Pope's on-line study. This weekend, the group begins reading through the new testament. The first reading focused on Luke Chapter 1 and it really spoke volume to me.

First of all, Zechariah is a priest.  Each time a priest entered into God's Sanctuary, he must be holy or he will fall over dead in the presence of our most holy God.  Zechariah cast lots with the rest of his group and found himself the winner that day.  While others were praying outside, Zechariah entered the most holy sanctuary and an angel appeared to him. 

Now, let's think about this.  He's in the sanctuary, there's people praying outside, and we know that the only presence in the temple besides Zechariah is God.  No one else would have survived the trip unless he/she were ordained by God.  Yet, Zechariah doubts the message he brings.

This just screams, "DUH!!!!!"  How many times have I been in church, in Bible Study, in prayer, or writing in my journal and felt God telling me something?  How many times has God used a messenger to tell me?  How many times did I wonder...."Is this for real?"  I'm certain that this has happened and God must have wanted to give me that what-for like Gabriel did to Zechariah.  I wonder how loud Gabrielle's voice must have felt to Zechariah when he was chastised for being so ridiculous?

How many times have I reasoned away a message from my loving Father?  .... an answer to my prayer....

Good Morning, Friend

Exodus 33:11a
Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

WOW! I just had to read this scripture again and again, ...the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend...I believe the Lord wants to be our friend. What do you think? Isn't that awesome?!

I meditated on this scripture for days, it just wasn't something I could fully comprehend. I've known Him as God, Lord, Savior, Father, Healer, God of Peace, God of Love, and many others...but friend? YEAH! What better bff could I have than God?

Last Sunday morning, I was greeted by my Friend, with a beautiful sunrise that seemed to greet me with a burst of color and warmth...a special gift.

A New Way of Thinking

Recently, I've embarked on a new journey. Not necessarily a journey of my choosing, but a journey none-the-less. My entire life has changed, my job, my pay, my values, the hours I am away from home, the hours spent trying to learn the new job, etc. Really, our lives are not the same. In the all-not-so-far-off-past, I used to love shopping with friends, a day at the hairdresser and a pedicure, shopping for the latest clothes and accessories, as well as eating out.



This doesn't mean that I no longer like these things; I really enjoy them actually. Yet, the truth is, I'm learning to enjoy other things more. The road to get there is not exactly the smoothest highway. In fact, the ride is more like dirt roading in a topless jeep. I feel every bump along the road, my car gets dirty, my hair feels like it will never be the same, and I'm kinda get used to it. Who needs high heel boots in a jeep? They just hurt my feet anyway!



My new job requires less hours but I'm farther away from home. The transportation costs more but I'm closer to retail outlets and discount stores. I've had to give up the house keeper due to less pay, and working farther away makes it even harder to keep up with the chores, I can no longer run home during lunch to put something out for supper or load the washer. It takes time to go through the mail, call and re-arrange payment schedules, work on health insurance issues...my time has been the greatest challenge.



Yet, I'm learning a new life style. The past few weeks we've experienced SNOW! As an educator, I'm home on snow days. HOME! It feels great! I don't want to leave! I'm cleaning out the freezer, getting caught up on reading, preparing for taxes, and loving every minute of it. I can't believe I'm saying this...but...it's a lot more rewarding than shopping. I can have breakfast or lunch with friends and enjoy it even more when we are snowed in at one another's home than in a restraunt.



Really, this is a journey home.

This morning, I woke up around 3:00 am just praising my God. Do I do that nearly enough? Do I really know how? Have I ever just praised Him in my words, actions, etc. beyond music?

Just something to think about... my offering of praise.
(Press Pause on the player at the bottom of the page before you begin this video.)

Give Us Clean Hands

Siesta Sister Memory Team Verse 2

Photo by Lois Honeycutt

This challenge has proven to be fun! I've decided to purchase a charm bracelet. Each charm will represent a new scripture verse I've memorized this year. My thought is that as I go through the charms, I will recall the scripture. I hope to find charms that will somewhat match my thoughts as I've gone through the verses.

My verse for this month:

Jer 17:7-8 (getting bolder...two verses this time)

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Tell me what verse you are memorizing!

Look At This

Siesta Scripture Memory Video #1 from LPV on Vimeo.

My First Verse of 2011

Those who love Your teachings will find true peace and nothing will defeat them. Psalm 119:165

This is my first verse to memorize for the year. What is your verse? I'd love to know!

God, Our Creator

It is soooo amazing to know our Creator...




He is our AWESOME GOD! This year, I want to be even closer to Him.

Woop! Woop! Here We Go!!!!

My first memory scripture verse for the year:

Those who love your teachings will find true peace and nothing will defeat them. Psalm 119:165 New Century Version

What is your scripture verse? (Check out Beth's blog if you are still searching for the right verse to fit your season of life.)